Paul McCartney pays tribute to Liverpool funnyman Ken Dodd

Paul McCartney pays tribute to Liverpool funnyman Ken Dodd

Paul McCartney has paid tribute his fellow Liverpudlian, the comedian Ken Dodd, who died aged 90 on Sunday (11Mar18). The Beatles rocker, 75, who like Ken hails from Knotty Ash, Liverpool, England, posted a social media tribute to the legendary comedian, who also competed with Paul’s band in the U.K. charts in the 1960s. “Farewell to my fellow Liverpudlian the tattyfilarious (a made up word from Ken’s routines) Ken Dodd,” he wrote in a message posted on Instagram and Twitter. “Beloved by many people in Britain and a great champion of his home city and comedy. We met him on a few occasions as The Beatles and always ended up in tears of laughter. Today it’s tears of sadness as well. See you Doddy.” One notable meeting between Ken and The Beatles came when they were interviewed together on U.K. TV in 1963. In the chat, the funnyman claimed the group were “martians” and joked they could form a supergroup called “Kenny and the Cockroaches”, “Doddy and the Diddymen”, or “Ringo and the Layabouts”. Other U.K. celebrities also paid tribute to the late star, who died just days after he was released from hospital where he was treated for a chest infection. The actor Samuel West wrote on Twitter, “Remembering Ken Dodd performing at @crucibletheatre. We had to order taxis home for all the staff; his set finished after midnight (and nobody wanted a second less). May we all fill 90 years so well.” Referencing one of the funnyman’s gags, comedian Dawn French added, “What a wonderful day for sticking a cucumber through your neighbour’s letter box and shouting ‘the aliens have landed!’ Tatty bye Doddy. And thanks.” Fellow funnyman David Walliams posted a picture of Ken with The Beatles and wrote, “Comedy flowed through him like water. RIP Sir Ken Dodd”, while TV duo Ant and Dec called the late star a “comedy legend”. Ken is survived by his wife Anne, whom he married on Friday (09Mar18) after 40 years together. Speaking outside the couple’s Liverpool home, she said she was “overwhelmed by the love and affection” fans had shown to her husband after his passing.